Electric switch



Oct. 13,1 25. 1,556,743

I c. E. ANDERSON T AL ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed May 14 1925 ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 13, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CARL ERIC ANDERSON, OF STRATFORD, AND HARRY U. BADEAU, OF BRDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNORS TO THE BRYANT ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF BRIDGEIORT, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT; I

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Application filed Kay 14, 1925. Serial No. 30,198.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CARL ERIC ANDER- SON and HARRY U. BADEAU, both citizens of the United States of America, residing, respectively, :at Stratford, in the county of Fairfield, State of Connecticut, and at Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield, State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Switches, of which the following is a specification. I 1

Our invention relates to electric switches, and particularly to a switch construction adapted to the diminutive size necessary for canopy installations and the like. The object of our invention is to provide an eflicient switch mechanism and general structure appropriate for such service.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a plan View of a switch in which our invention is embodied in one form and shown approximately actualsize for canopy service;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged section on'the line a2, Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3, Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a dropped perspective of portions of the switch mechanism; and

Fig. 5 is a section corresponding to Fig. 3, but showing a modified construction.

The insulating base 15, preferably molded from composition, is recessed from one face to afford a switch chamber 16, the side walls of which are shaped to afford a series of ratchet teeth terminating in shoulders 17. Opening to opposite sides of thechamber are channels 18 and 19 to accommodate the lead wires 20 and 21. Overlying the bottoms of the channels adjacent the chamber are terminal straps 22 and 23, the ends of which project into the switch chamber and are offset and lie against opposite ratchet teeth to form stationary contacts 24 and 25. The terminal straps 22 and 23 are secured to the base by hollow rivets 26 and 27, into which are passed the bared ends of the lead wires and 21 mechanically and electrically connected thereto by drops of solder 28 and 29.

The switch bar comprises an S-shaped flat metal spring, the brush ends 30 of which are integral with a straight tie web 31. The

switch bar is rotated by an insulating block 32 from one side of which projects a boss 33 split at 34 to straddle the web 31. Proecting from the opposite face of the block 32 is a non-circular stem 35, u n which is passed a washer 36 pierced at 3 to conform to the contour of the'stem 35 and provided in its marginal area with offset spring ratchet teeth 38 and 39. A metal ferrule 40, centrally recessed at 41 to accommodate the stem 35, is rovided with an annular base 42, the lower ace of which is transversely recessed at 43 to afford shoulders adapted to engage the ratchet teeth 38 and 39 of the washer 36 for a one-way drive of the block 32. The outer end of the ferrule is tapped at 44 to receive a screw 45 by means of which the thumb piece 46 is secured to the ferrule.

The parts are held in assembled relation by the cover plate 47 and the interposed linlng plate 48 of insulation, through both of which rivets or bolts 49 and 50 pass and serve to secure the same ri idly to the base. The cover plate is centrally apertured and offset at 51, the olfset 51 affording a shoulder for engagement by the spread innerend of bushing 52 which surrounds the ferrule 40 and bears at its inner end against the base 42 of the ferrule, thus maintaining the latter in position on the stem'35 and in driving relation to the ratchet washer 36. The bushing is externally threaded to receive the lock nuts 53 and 54 by which the switch may be clamped at an opening in the canopy 55,

the marginof the hole bearing against the shoulder 51 of the switch cover and being clamped thereagainst by the nuts 53 and 54.

The operation of the switch is readil understood. U on rotation of the thum piece 46 clockwise, the ferrule 40 drives the washer 36, and thus the block 32, to impart rotation to the switch bar. On contra-clockwise rotation of the thumb piece 46 the switch bar is held against reverse rotation by the engagement of the ends of spring brushes 30 against the shoulders 17 afl'orded by the ratchet tooth side walls of the switch chamber 16, while the ferrule 40 rides the spring teeth 38 and39 of the driving ratchet 36 The construction shown in Fig. 5 is in its main features identical with that just described, except that the switch is adapted for the control of two separate circuits. For this purpose the side walls of'the switch chamber 56 is shaped to afford six ratchet teeth 57, one of which is overlaid by the contact 58 of the feed wire terminal 59, while two adjacent facets at the opposite side of the chamber are overlaid by the contacts 60 and 61 of the distributing terminals 62 and 63. The switch bar in this instance, comprises two spring brush bars 64 and 65, each of the general characterof that shown in Fig. 3, the straight tie webs of the bars being juxtaposed and engaged in the slot 34: of the base 33 of the rotary insulating block 32. In'the position shown in Fig. 5 the circuit is closed between the feed contact 58 and both distributing contacts 60 and 61. In the position of the switch immediately preceding that shown, the circuit is established only betweenthe'contact 58 andthe contact 60, while in the next succeeding osition the circuit is broken between both 0 the brushes 64 and 65 and the feed contact 58.

Various modifications in detail of construction will readily occur to those dealing with the problem, which, however, do not depart from what we claim as our invention.

We claim-- 1. An electric switch comprising a rotary switch bar of spring flat metal, a rotary insulating block having a boss projecting from one face thereof and slotted to straddle said switch bar, and a driving ratchet operatively engaging said block at ighe opposite side thereof from the switch 2. An electric switch comprising a rotary switch bar of spring fiat metal, a rotary insulating block having a boss projecting from one face thereof and slotted to straddle said switch bar, a non-circular stem projecting from the opposite face of the block, and a ratchet driving washer engaged on said stem.

3. In an electric switch mechanism, a rotary insulating block having a noncircular stem projecting from one face theremeans of, a washer with ratchet teeth fitting said non-circular stem, and a driving member rotatable on said stem and having an. operative one-way engagement with the teeth of the ratchet washer.

4. In an electric switch mechanism, a driving membercomprising a ferrule recessed from one end to receive the stem of a rotary switch member, and transversely slotted at said end-to afi'ord driving shoulders for engagement with the teeth of a ratchet member, said ferrule being tapped at its other end to receive a thumb-piece securingscrews.

5. In an electric switch mechanism, an assembly unit comprising an insulating block having a transversely slotted bo'ss projecting from one face and a non-circular stem projecting from the other face, a spring switch bar, the webof which is engaged in said slotted boss, and a washer fitted on said non-circular stem and provided with oflset spring ratchet teeth adapted to afford, with a cooperating member, a

one-way drive of said block and contact.

6. In an electric switch, an insulating base recessed on one face to form a switch chamber, switch contacts arranged at the sides of the chamber, a rotary insulating block bearing against the bottom of the chamber, a switch bar carried thereby adjacent the bottom of the chamber for making and breaking circuit between the switch contacts, a stem projecting from the opposite face of the block, a spring ratchet washer surroundingthe stem and rotating therewith, together with a driving member having a one-way engagement with the spring ratchet but rotatable on the stem, and a cover member bearing on said driving member to maintain the operating connection between the driving member and ratchet. In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification.

- CARL ERIC ANDERSON.

HARRY U. BADEAU. 

